How Much Should You Charge for a Wag! Dog Sitting?

Becoming a Pet Caregiver with Wag! is a great way to earn some extra cash, or maybe even a full-time income. But if you’re a Sitter with Wag!, working out how much to charge Pet Parents for your services can be a tricky task.

You obviously want to be paid a fair rate for your services, but at the same time, you don’t want to price yourself out of reach of Pet Parents. 

So how can you calculate the right price for Sitting with Wag!? Keep reading to find out.

When pricing your services as a Pet Caregiver, try to think of yourself as Goldilocks. You need to find a price that’s neither too little nor too much, but just right. 

A price in this range is a happy medium that allows you to earn a decent living after all your costs have been taken into account, but which Pet Parents are still happy to pay. Remember, cost is a major factor for Pet Parents when choosing a Sitter, so you don’t want to price yourself out of range. At the same time, you need to make sure Sitting is worth your while.

But setting your rate isn’t just guesswork. Instead, there are several factors you need to consider to help you decide on the right Sitting price.

When pricing your services as a Sitter with Wag!, these are the key factors to take into account:

• Where you live. First, consider the cost of living in your local area, which varies greatly from state to state and depending on whether you’re based in a major city or more of a regional area. This will affect how much money you need to make per Sitting to make ends meet, as well as how much a Pet Parent will reasonably expect to pay for overnight dog care.

• Your Sitting experience. If you’re just starting out as a Sitter with Wag!, your rate will be lower than someone who has years of experience. But once you’ve got lots of Sitting and 5-star reviews under your belt, it’s reasonable to increase your price.

• Your pet care experience and qualifications. Your experience in other pet care fields, plus any qualifications you have earned, can also affect how much you charge. For example, if you’ve previously worked as a veterinary nurse or completed a reputable dog training course, Pet Parents may be willing to pay more for you to look after their pups.

• Your expenses. Next, think about your own situation and the expenses you’ll incur to get to and from the sitting. These include transportation costs and vehicle maintenance, plus any other pet supplies (such as treats) that you may need to purchase. Remember too that you’ll have to pay income tax on the money you earn, so this is another cost to factor into your calculations.

• What Sitting involves. No matter how much you love dogs, providing overnight care for any pet still requires a lot of time and effort. You’ll be giving up your time outside of normal working hours to care for your canine clients, and some dogs also have special care needs, so make sure you’re being fair to yourself when setting your rate.

• What other pet sitters near you are charging. If your services are significantly more expensive than other pet sitters in your area, you probably won’t get many Sitting requests. That’s why it’s important to do your own research to work out what other sitters are charging. Check prices on Wag! and compare other popular pet sitting services in your area to calculate the average rate.

• Your rate vs the total rate. It’s also important to remember that the rate you set in the Wag! app is the rate you will receive for your services. Look below your rate to see the total amount the Pet Parent will need to pay for a Sitting — is this a reasonable figure that the average Pet Parent would be willing to pay?

• Number of dogs. Finally, don’t forget that the rate you quote is the price for sitting 1 dog for 1 night. Additional dogs cost an extra $24 per dog per night.

Once you’ve considered all of the above, you should have a rough idea of the “pawfect” price point for a Wag! Dog Sitting.

On average, dog Sitters with Wag! Charge between $39 and $59 for an overnight stay for 1 dog. However, the cost of overnight care can vary greatly depending on where you live, so it’s important to do your own research to decide on a fair rate.

Once you’ve set your price, there’s plenty more you can do to ensure that those Sitting requests start rolling in. Make sure your profile is fully up to date and includes details of your experience, qualifications, and the services you offer. Including good-quality photos of yourself with some canine pals is important too, and make sure to promote your profile to attract more requests.

For more tips on how to boost your dog sitting skills, check out our guide to the 9 traits of top-notch dog sitters. Our ultimate guide to being a well-prepared dog sitter is another useful resource.

Got more questions about the ins and outs of Sitting with Wag!? Check out our support center for Pet Caregivers to find answers to a wide range of FAQs.